Christian Brothers Oceania Province release 5th Update on undertakings to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

(7 July 2015) The Christian Brothers Oceania today announced it has completed nearly 50% of re-examinations of past settled matters in Western Australia, in line with undertakings made at the Royal Commission in Perth.

At the conclusion of public hearings into residential education institutions in Western Australia, the Christian Brothers undertook to re-examine those cases of former students that had been “settled on demonstrably unjust and unreasonably low terms”.

The Tardun, Bindoon, Clontarf and Castledare facilities were the subject of Case Study 11 of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

“As a result of that commitment, 130 requests for re-examination were received relating to previously settled matters arising from complaints of abuse at those facilities”, said Brother Peter Clinch, Province Leader, Christian Brothers Oceania.

“The Christian Brothers can report today that significant progress continues to be made with an additional 24 re-examination cases now concluded since our 4th Update in March 2015.

“As of 29 June 2015, a total of 64 re-examination cases have been finalised and new settlements reached.

“These resettled matters now account for 49% of the requests received by the Christian Brothers Oceania relating to the Western Australian institutions.

“The Christian Brothers are confident of continuing to make further progress in these matters over coming months and details will be provided in a sixth update in due course.

In addition to the re-examination process, the Christian Brothers continue to respond to all claims of abuse relating to Western Australia and other states”, said Brother Clinch.

Summary – Re-examined matters WA June 2015

The fifth update of undertakings made by the Christian Brothers at the Royal Commission in Perth, effective 29 June 2015:

The Christian Brothers Oceania had initiated or responded to requests for re-examination of 130 cases relating to the Western Australian institutions that were the subject of Case Study 11 of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

Meetings and mediations in at least 70 matters have been conducted in the period to June 2015

Most matters are the subject of negotiations with all parties being supported by legal advisers

To date (64) re-examinations have been concluded and new settlements have been reached

Additional counselling and support services, including legal assistance, have been provided.

The commitments made by the Christian Brothers at the Royal Commission in Perth were:

Providing survivors of abuse suffered at facilities operated by the Christian Brothers with ongoing professional psychological counselling, for life if needed.

Being open to re-examining cases that have been settled on demonstrably unjust and unreasonably low terms.